Communication jack that withstands insertion of a communication plug that the jack is not specifically configured to mate with without being damage

Abstract

A communication jack that withstands insertion of a communication plug with which the jack is not configured to mate without being damaged. The communication jack comprises a wire board and a number of contact wires that extend above the wire board and that are electrically coupled to respective contact regions on the wire board at first ends of the contact wires. The contact wires having second ends that are freely disposed for making electrical connections with corresponding contact wires of a mating communication plug. Each of the freely disposed ends of the contact wires are cantilevered from respective fist ends of the contact wires such that the contact wires are capable of being deflected when the freely disposed ends wipe against respective contact wires of the mating communication plug. Some of the freely disposed ends are deflected to a lesser degree than at least two opposing, outer freely disposed ends when the freely disposed ends wipe against and are deflected by respective contact wires of a mating communication plug. The freely disposed ends that are deflected to a lesser degree than the opposing, outer freely disposed ends abut a surface of the wire board. The configuration of the wire board is such that the opposing, outer freely disposed ends avoid abutting the surface of the wire board when the freely disposed ends wipe against and are deflected by respective contact wires of a mating communication plug.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A communication jack comprising: 
       a wire board having a front edge region; and  
       a number of contact wires extending above the wire board and electrically coupled to respective contact regions on the wire board at first ends of the contact wires, the contact wires having second ends that are freely disposed for making electrical connections with respective contact wires of a first mating communication plug, each of the second ends of the contact wires being cantilevered from respective first ends of the contact wires such that the contact wires are capable of being deflected toward a surface of the wire board when the second ends wipe against the respective contact wires of the first mating communication plug, and wherein the wire board is configured such that all inner ends of the second ends are deflected to a lesser degree than two opposing, outer freely disposed ends of the second ends when the second ends wipe against and are deflected toward said surface of the wire board by respective contact wires of a second mating communication plug, and wherein all inner ends of the second ends that are deflected to a lesser degree than said two opposing, outer freely disposed ends end abut said surface of the wire board, and wherein the configuration of the wire board is such that said at least two opposing, outer freely disposed ends avoid abutting said surface of the wire board when all the inner ends of the second ends wipe against and are deflected by the respective contact wires of the second mating communication plug;  
       wherein the configuration of the wire board includes at least two openings formed in the front edge region of the wire board below said two opposing, outer freely disposed ends, said openings preventing said two opposing, outer freely disposed ends from abutting said surface of the wire board when all the inner ends of the second ends wipe against and are deflected by the respective contact wires of the second mating communication plug.  
     
     
       2. The communication jack of  claim 1 , wherein the communication jack is an RJ-45 communication jack, the first communication plug is an RJ-45 communication plug, and the second communication plug is an RJ-11 communication plug. 
     
     
       3. The communication jack of  claim 2 , wherein when the RJ-45 communication jack is coupled to the RJ-45 communication plug, all of the second ends wipe against and are deflected to approximately the same degree by the respective contact wires of the RJ-45 communication plug, and wherein when the RJ-45 communication jack is mated with the RJ-11 communication plug, all of the inner ends of the second ends are deflected to a lesser degree than the two opposing, outer freely disposed ends when all the inner ends of the second ends wipe against and are deflected by the respective contact wires of the RJ-11 communication plug.